The match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders was a game among the two teams, who are sitting at the different ends of the same spectrum. Kolkata won the toss and asked Rajasthan to bat first. Ajinkya Rahane’s miserable form seems not ending soon as he got out for a single digit score. Steve Smith and Jos Buttler build a partnership but things were going pretty slow for them. Buttler perished after scoring 37 runs off 34 balls. Smith didn’t throw his wicket and stayed unbeaten for his 73 runs in 59 balls. Rajasthan scored a below-par total of 139/3 in 20 overs.
KKR was in a hurry to chase the target down. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine looted 65 runs in the powerplay and gave Kolkata a 91-run opening partnership. While Narine scored quick fire 47 runs, Lynn completed his 50 runs in 32 balls. Both players hit six fours and three towering sixes each. Rest was the formality for Kolkata as they won the match by eight wickets with 37 balls to spare. Let’s have a look at what were the reasons for defeat for Rajasthan.
Watch – Lynn smashed a six on the glass of Promotional SUV
Snail-paced start
Asked to bat first, Rajasthan got off to a slow start. Ajinkya Rahane was departed in the second over of the match and Steve Smith was batting with Jos Buttler. But both batsmen found it hard to score runs on Jaipur surface. Only 28 runs were scored in first six overs despite the field restrictions. Rajasthan reached to 10 overs with 56 to show on runs’ column. This slow start turned decisive as RR scored a below-par total against star-studded KKR batting lineup.
Too many dots in death overs
Well set Steve Smith was batting with hard-hitter Ben Stokes in final overs of Rajasthan’s innings. Everyone expected this duo will give a much-required boost to their innings but this was not the case. Both batsmen were barely scoring runs against KKR’s bowlers. In the final five overs, Rajasthan played 15 dot balls and scored just 36 runs in that period. There were two no-balls as well, but Stokes utilized neither the illegal ball nor the free-hit.
Watch – Lynn and Narine got lifelines on back-to-back balls
Flamboyant Lynn-Narine duo
Chasing 140 runs KKR openers were seen in a hurry. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine looted 65 runs in the powerplay and gave Kolkata a 91-run opening partnership. Every bowler looked toothless in front of them as they were smashing them for cleaners. Narine scored a quick fire 47 runs in 25 balls and Lynn managed 50 runs off 32 balls. Both players hit six fours and three towering sixes each.
